Youth league officials' study tour of Mt. Paektu starts

    Pochon, June 4 (KCNA) -- A study tour of revolutionary battlesites in Mt. Paektu by youth league officials from across the country began on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the victory in the historic Pochonbo battle commanded by President Kim Il Sung. A meeting for the start of the tour took place in front of the monument to the victorious Battle of Pochonbo in Hyesan city, Ryanggang Province on June 4.
    The participants laid floral baskets and bouquets before the Statue of Kim Il Sung standing at the monument and paid tribute to him.
    Kim Kyong Ho, first secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, delivered a report at the meeting. The reporter and speakers underscored the need for all the participants in the tour to deeply grasp the greatness of the three generals of Mt. Paektu and immortal exploits they performed and learn from the noble revolutionary spirit displayed by the anti-Japanese forerunners so as to prepare themselves as vanguard fighters who are devotedly defending the leader, standard bearers in the struggle and brave young officials.
    They arrived in Pochonbo and looked round different places in the revolutionary battlesite that day.
    They had a torch parade and a campfire there that night on the occasion.

Rally for implementing joint declaration held in S. Korea

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- The "reunification solidarity" of South Korea reportedly held the first people's rally for the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration and the successful holding of the grand festival for national reunification in Seoul on June 1. At the rally speakers said that the Korean people should successfully hold the June 15 grand festival for national reunification by pooling their efforts under the situation where the united states is getting hell-bent on the moves for a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula after defining the north as an "axis of evil" and a "sponsor of terrorism".
    Referring to the behavior of the "ministry of unification" escalating the suppression of the non-governmental movement for reunification, they called for certainly holding the grand festival for national reunification at present by the concerted efforts of the fellow countrymen because the June 15 joint declaration can be implemented only under the concern of all the people and with their participation.
    The resolution of struggle adopted at the rally called upon all the forces in the south and the north to check the U.S. hegemonic war policy through their great unity, being conscious that the only way of preventing an attempt of war on the Korean Peninsula is for them to get firmly united as one to run counter to the policy.
    The resolution underscored the need to achieve the great national unity to successfully hold the June 15 grand festival for national reunification, frustrate the U.S. hegemonic war moves and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"Pochonbo Torch Cup" sports tournament opens

hyesan, June 4 (KCNA) -- The "Pochonbo Torch Cup" sports tournament was opened on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the victory in the historic Pochonbo battle. The tournament will include more than 30 events including football, basketball, table-tennis, marathon race, shooting. The tournament will be held in Pyongyang, Hyesan and other places till late June.
An opening ceremony was held at the Hyesan Stadium in Ryanggang Province today.

Foreign diplomats help Korean farmers

Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa and embassy officials, Cuban ambassador Esteban Lobaina Romero and embassy officials and Pakistani ambassador Sultan Habib and embassy officials respectively helped the farmers of the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Jamjin Cooperative Farm, the Korea-Cuba Friendship Hwasong Cooperative Farm and the Korea-Pakistan Friendship Taesong Cooperative Farm in their rice-seedling plucking and rice transplanting. During the break the guests talked with farmers, deepening the feelings of friendship.
&nbp; Vietnamese guests handed over aid materials to the farm.

Singlehearted unity of Korean army and people praised

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Ilia Garvazei, head of the Ensemble of the Red Flag Far Eastern Military District of the Federal Armed Forces of Russia, was interviewed by reporters in Pyongyang before its departure after visiting the DPRK. he said that while visiting different places of Pyongyang, he could more deeply feel the great personality of leader Kim Jong Il who is pursuing the policies for the sake of the people.
&nbp; He went on:
    The economic potentials and national defence capacity of the DPRK are now on a very high level. The credit for this goes to Kim Jong Il who is leading the Korean people to victory with his unique idea.
    The visit to the DPRK made us have a good understanding of the army and the people united single-heartedly around the great leader.
    Korea is sure to be reunified and a powerful nation will surely come true as Kim Jong Il has trained and is leading the army and people with strong sense of organization and collectivism, noble spirit and a high level of culture.
    The friendly and cooperative relations between Russia and the DPRK are growing stronger. These relations developing under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries will remain unchanged like the blue water of the River Tuman.

Zelkova tree at ancient academy

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- A 500 odd-year-old Zelkova tree stands in the yard of Koryo Songgyungwan Academy in Kaesong. It was the highest seat of learning of the feudal state during the Koryo and Ri dynasties.
    It was listed as a natural monument in Juche 69 (1980).
    It is 25 metres high and 7.1 metres round at its bottom.
    It is ramified into two trunks from height of about 6.5 metres which spread out many branches to form thick shade 17 metres across.
    It has been long preserved well with the academy as it is instrumental in academic studies.

Schoolchildren's camping

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Schoolchildren are enjoying themselves at children's camps in different parts of Korea. Hundreds of children's union members have come to the Jangjasan Children's Camp located on the outskirts of Kanggye city, Jagang Province, from different parts of the country on the occasion of the foundation anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (June 6). During their camping they consolidate what they learned at schools, training their bodies through mountaineering, sports, dance parties, music and dance diffusion and contests and other activities.
    At the Myohyangsan Children's Mountaineering Camp campers are enjoying themselves climbing up to Sangwon Temple, Manphok Valley and other beauty spots of Mt. Myohyang, while collecting animals and plants and contesting cooking.
    Camping proceeds from Feb. 16 to November 15 every year.
    Camping period is 12 days, 8 days and 7 days.
    The state bears the expenses of all campers.

Day of Navy

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- June 5 is the Day of the Navy of the Korean People's Army. President Kim Il Sung gave teachings on organizing a maritime security force on June 5, Juche 35 (1946).
    The DPRK commemorates the day as the day of the navy every year.
    The KPA navy has strengthened its fighting power since its founding and performed great feats in defending the country. During the fatherland liberation war four naval torpedo-boats sank and damaged a heavy cruiser and a light cruiser of the u.s. imperialists, which wrought a miracle in the world history of sea battles.
    The navy captured pueblo, a U.S. imperialist armed spy ship which intruded into the territorial waters of Korea in the 1960s, and resolutely smashed the military provocation of the enemies at the time of the "incident on the West Sea" in June Juche 88 (1999), demonstrating its might all over the world.
    The KPA navy has grown into a-match-for-a-hundred militant ranks with a powerful offensive and defensive means to defeat any formidable enemy at a stroke.

World Day of Environment observed

Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Papers here today run signed articles on the occasion of the World Day of Environment. Rodong Sinmun says that global warming presents itself as an important issue in the work for protecting global environment and guaranteeing the human existence and development.
The DPRK has made many successes in the work for preventing pollution and big progress in the protecting people's lives and promoting their health thanks to nationwide efforts under the state and social care, the paper says, and goes on: Various activities and functions are taking place in the DPRK for environmental protection on this day. The DPRK will as always vigorously push ahead with the work for environmental protection, an important issue common to mankind, developing contacts and cooperation with international organizations.

Full display of Korean nation-first spirit called for

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- the Korean nation-first spirit represents the pride and self-respect that the Korean nation is great and the noble idea and sentiment based on high consciousness and will to further glorify this nation, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. It is important to properly inherit and develop the national cultural tradition in highly displaying the nation-first spirit, the article notes, and continues:
    The leader of the nation is a symbol of its dignity.
    A nation will be great and a powerful nation will enjoy a bright future and prosperity when it has a great leader. If a nation with a shining history and tradition lacks a leader great enough to lead it to glorify them, it cannot preserve its tradition and will allow its identity to be obliterated.
    The long history and cultural tradition of the Korean nation are in full bloom in the DPRK as its people hold leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem.
    The national cultural heritages that have been handed down generation after generation remain shining. Culture and arts, national in style and socialist in content, are in full bloom, while folk sports games, national food and dresses are promoted.
    This proud reality helps the Korean people keenly realize how great the honour and happiness of living and making revolutions under his leadership are.
    It is an important requirement for defending and glorifying the Korean style socialist system centered on the popular masses to properly inherit and develop the excellent tradition of the nation.

Greetings to Hungarian PM and FM

Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, sent a message of greetings to Peter Medgiessy upon his appointment as prime minister of Hungary. In the belief that the relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the interests of the two peoples, it wished him success in his responsible work.
Meanwhile, foreign minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to Laszlo Kovach upon his appointment as foreign minister of Hungary.

Credentials to Kim Yong Nam from Brunei Darussalam ambassador

    Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Brunei Darussalam ambassador to the DPRK Asmalee Ahmad presented credentials to Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
    Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of foreign affairs, was present.
    After receiving credentials, the president had a talk with the ambassador.